Democrats call Ted Cruz’s joke about Hurricane Isaac insensitive

Texans at the RNC

Texas Republicans sent 304 delegates and alternates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa — the second-largest contingent in the United States.

While speaking at a rally organized by the Faith and Freedom Coalition in Tampa yesterday, Texas Republican Senate candidate Ted Cruz told a joke about Joe Biden and ended up … pulling a Biden himself.

As the Republican National Convention schedule was being adjusted due to hurricane Isaac, Vice President Joe Biden canceled his scheduled trip to Tampa where the convention was being held. On the heels of this cancellation, Ted Cruz referred to the Hurricane Isaac as a blessing, saying, “If nothing else, it kept Joe Biden away.”

“Leave it to someone of Mr. Cruz’s sensitivity to be the first one to crack a joke about a killer hurricane,” Bill Brannon, executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, told the Houston Chronicle this afternoon.

According to ABC News, on Monday, Cruz’s campaign manager John Drogin issued a statement regarding the candidate’s joke.

“I understand that the Democrats are very sensitive about jokes about Joe Biden, and for good reason. As Ted expressed the very same day, it is critical that everyone be fully prepared for any hurricane, and our prayers are with everyone in the path of Tropical Storm Isaac,” read the statement.

However, the Biden jokes did not stop there. When speaking to Utah delegation this morning, Ted Cruz joked that the Vice President was scheduled to speak at the convention. “Because you know, every time Joe Biden opens his mouth, he gets Republican votes,” said Cruz, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.